nterest in space is back in a big way. "Astrophysics For People In a Hurry" has been a bestseller all year. There was that little eclipse thing this summer, and now we have this from Kelly, the American holding the record for consecutive days in space. A middling student who decided to be an astronaut after reading Tom Wolfe's "The Right Stuff," Kelly tells readers about his formative years and his time aboard the International Space Station. It's the closest most of us will ever get to outer space, and it's a fascinating rocket ride there.

While I don't think this one will inspire a world-famous musical like his book, "Alexander Hamilton," the award-winning Chernow has written a fascinating book about another pivotal figure in American history. Grant's life was filled with equal parts triumph and tragedy. New York Times critic Janet Maslin said about "Grant" that "Books of its caliber by writers of Chernow's stature are rare, and this one qualifies as a major event."

In a recent Forbes interview, Isaacson said, "The theme of all my books is that true creativity and innovation comes from being able to stand at the intersection of art and science. Leonardo da Vinci is history's ultimate example of combining art and science. That's what made him history's greatest genius."